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| string quartets FAQS |
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| FAQs What instruments are in a string quartet? Joseph Haydn, who is credited with the "invention" of the string quartet as we know it, established the standard instrumentation of 2 violins, viola and cello between 1750 and 1803. How does the quartet dress? The dress code is normally formal: men in tuxedos / women in black. For some occasions, like a morning funeral service, dark suit and long tie will be more appropriate. What do you require to perform? The quartet requires only 4 upright chairs without arms in an area ideally ca. 8 by 8 feet (If that is not quite possible, don't worry, we have squeezed into some tight places on occasion). Are you willing to play outdoors? Yes, we are - within reason. Our main concerns are the safety of the instruments and being able to perform well. i.e.. we must be in full shade (especially in the summer), and there cannot be any precipitation. Do you play for receptions also? Yes - we often play during the cocktail hour and/or for dinner, and frequently the whole of the reception. My wedding ceremony and the reception are in two different locations. How do you charge for that? In a situation like this, which is quite common, we charge for the length of the engagement, including the time to travel between venues. In other words, from the start of the prelude until the end of our playing time at the reception This usually needs to be addressed on an individual basis. Prelude: Is there going to be music before my ceremony? We suggest prelude music one-half hour before the start of the ceremony. This does help greatly to set the mood for your guests as they are waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin. How do I choose the music for the prelude? Do I have to select the whole program? It is not necessary for you to choose all the prelude music, unless of course you want to. Some people have very definite ideas about programming, others leave it completely to us. Through long experience we have found that choosing from a wide variety of material, according to what “feels” best for the moment and the location, usually works best. Also, if you give us an indication what mood you would like to create, we can make appropriate recommendations. Ceremony: How many pieces of music do I need for the ceremony? For a Christian or non-denominational wedding, you might have six to seven separate pieces: A. one for the seating of the grand mothers, one for the seating of the mothers (depending on the numbers of grand mothers and mothers, it could be only one piece) B. one for the bridal party (minister, grooms men, brides maids, flower girls, ring bearer, etc.) C. one for the entrance of the bride. D. Very often there is a short meditational piece, lighting of the Unity Candle, for example. E. one for the Recessional (exit of the bridal party) F. one for the Postlude (music for the guests to leave by). Often, the minister will make an announcement between Recessional and Postlude We will help you of course with all of this during consultation. How will you know when to start the music for the ceremony? All we need is a signal from your wedding coordinator. Also, we do arrive half an hour before prelude begins and go over the details with the appointed person to confirm the plan. How do we time our entrances to finish with the music? You don't actually have to worry about that. We have through long experience become very skilled in ending the music at just the right time. The only thing we do need to know is how many people are processing to each piece of music. Can I have music during the ceremony? In a Christian ceremony, there is often room for some short pieces: after readings, lighting of the unity candle, communion, parts of the Mass, congregational hymns etc. Please also ask your officiator about these for help in choosing appropriate music. How many pieces do we need for the recessional? Normally, one piece for the exit of the bridal party, and one more for your guests to leave by. Often, an announcement is made between these two. Planning: How far in advance should we book your quartet? We encourage you to book as early as is feasible, since the majority of spring and summer weekend dates book up rather quickly during January each year. Don't hesitate to call on short notice however. We have often been able to accommodate even very late bookings because of a previous cancellation. A $200 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of contract to reserve a date. (Please make checks payable to Beth Day). We do prefer getting the balance two weeks prior to the event, that way neither you or we have to think about it. If that makes you nervous -- “what if they don‘t show up!” -- you can pay us at the event. Dates are reserved on a "first come, first served" basis. When should we make the music selections? It would be good if we could talk before you meet with your officiator. That way we can come up with a preliminary program, based on what you really like. Since there are usually "dos" and "don'ts" regarding certain ceremonies, adjustments can be made after the meeting. Obviously, the earlier we discuss music choices, the easier it will be to accommodate special requests. What if there is a special piece of music I would like to be played. Can you do that? Yes, we almost always can. If it is not in our repertoire, we can often order an arrangement for string quartet if given enough lead time (a fee typically applies, in all cases needs to be addressed on an individual basis). Will you perform with singers? Absolutely. We will touch base with them ahead of time, work out details about keys, sheet music etc. If you would like, we can arrange for a singer for you. Do you need to rehearse with the vocalist(s)? Often, depending on the material, a rehearsal is needed for the the song (s) in question. Usually 30 min. before prelude begins. (a fee typically applies, in all cases needs to be addressed on an individual basis). Do we need to meet in person? It is actually not necessary to meet in person. All details can be addressed over the phone or via e-mail, but, if you prefer meeting in person, we would be happy to. Will you attend the wedding rehearsal? I'm worried about timing the bridal party to the music. Usually the coordinator of the quartet will attend the rehearsal. However, in cases where the quartet must travel outside of the Bentonville to Fayetteville area, or when we have a scheduling conflict, it may not be possible for the coordinator to attend the rehearsal. No need to worry, however. We are very adept at timing our music to t |